St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-11
CURRENT TOPICS.

European dispatches have. of late con-
tanned mention of movements to effect a
reconciliation between the church and
state in Italy. The present conflict dates
from 1870, when the authority of the ltal-
ian government was extended to the pa
pal states. The previous sovereignty OF
the Pope over this territory had been
upheld by France, and it was overthrown
as soon as the power of the French En-
peror had collapsed under the invasion
of the German armies. The Italian gov
eminent endeavored to secure the as
sent of the Pope to the incorporation
of the papal states with the rest
of Italy by passing what is known as the
law of papa guarantees. This law
guaranteed to the Pope his personal
liberty and complete freedom of eccle-
siastical activity and appropriated
for his use a yearly rcvcnuc of
S645. 900. The Pope refused to sub
NIT to the situation, and declined
the proffered revenue, which now has
accumulated to more than $1O,OOO,OO0.
The contention of the Vatican has
always been that the extinction
of the temporal power of the
Pope has destroyed his liberty, which
view of the case is embodied in the
familiar phrase 1.-THE prisoner Of the
Vatican" The feeling has been grow
ing that an accommodation between the
church and the civil power is extremely
desirable, and both sides are at present
in a more conciliatory humor than they
once were. The policy of the Vatican
in refusing to recognize the civil power
has been carried to such an extent that
voters controlled by ecclesiastical in
fluence have, as rule, abstained from
going to the polls; meanwhile the spec
tacle of political influence exerted in
Germany by the church has strongly
impressed Italian statesmen, who feel
that if clericalistic party was
organized in Italy it might be able
to control the elections, and it would
certainly be even more powerful than
that party is in Germany. On the other
hand, while concessions to the Pope
would ALLEVIATE the Radicals, if thereby
the support of the clerical vote should
be obtained the position of the govern
ment would be greatly strengthened.
The plan mooted is to cede to the Pope
the absolute sovereignty of a small bit
of territory, with strip on the Tiber,
so as to assure to him free communica-
ton with the sea 1t is pretty certain
that negotiations once begun would in
the end result in some settlement, al
though the progress might be very slow.
The growth of Socialism and the fero-
cious propaganda Of the Anarchists have
caused an increased appreciation of the
influence of the church as a bond
of social order, and there is now no
European government that does not de-
sire friendly relations with the Vatican.
~
The death of Justice Woods, of the
United States Supreme Court, i'm
poses upon the President delicate task
in the selection of his successor. Various
names have been suggested in connection
with the successor, among the rest that
of Attorney General Garland, but he de-
clares positively that he does not desire
the position, and proposes to retire from
public life at the expiration of his present
term of service in the Cabinet. 1t is con-
ceded that the appointment should go to
the South since Justice Woods, though
not a Southerner, had his residence in
the South, and was assigned to the
Southern circuit A strong effort is
making to secure the appointment of
J. Randolph Tucker, of Virginia. If
Judge Thurman would accept the ap
pointment, were it rendered to him, his
selection would, doubtless, be acceptable
to all sections of the country, irrespective
of party. In the near future the complex
ion of the court may be entirely changed.
Chief Justice Waite and Justices Field,
Miller and Bradley are now past seventy,
and are permitted, though not required,
to retire on full pay for life. Should
President Cleveland be reelected or
give place to Democratic successor, the
of the court in the course of the
coming six years would become Demo
cratic. During the past twenty-six year
President Lincoln appointed five mem
bers of the court, Grant three, Hayes
two, Garfield one and Arthur two.
x*#
The effect of the contraction of the
currency, caused by the accumulation of
surplus revenue in the United States
treasury, is becoming manifest. A year
ago the gold and legal-tender balances in
the treasury were $1S1 ,054 ,345; now they
are 1904, 1853, 1851. A year ago the surplus
reserve of the New York banks was $13,-
sol, 175; on May 81 it was $4,657, 200. A
year ago the rate of interest for call loans
was two per cent; now it is five per cent
The call of the remaining three per cents,
which mature July 1, will release about
100000 Of the money now locked up
in the treasury, but that is mere trifle,
inasmuch as the average increase of the
surplus is just about chat amount per
week. In this emergency various devices